Why the Next-Gen of consoles won't be ground breaking in terms of hardware | More focus on software!

Alright so to shut down high expectations for the next-gen consoles to produce amazing graphics power and hardware, I want to touch up on a few things.

Initially, people need to stop being irrational. While I've been saying this from right after E3, people need to stop thinking that graphics for a system are supposed to be leap forward because that simply won't happen for 2 key reasons.

1. If PC gamers haven't experienced a significant leap in visuals in the same amount of time it takes companies to release new lines of consoles, then don't even think for 2 seconds that consoles will either.

2. All games on a system run off of available engine support. If there isn't a single engine thank can perform you're definition of next-generation graphics or if one wasn't even hinted to preform that (I'm talking about you guys wanting more than CryEngine 3 and UE4), then why on this earth would expect your system to somehow come out with these types of graphics?

Okay so maybe these were more explanations than reasons, but they have the same effect. Now that that's behind us (Unless you have questions or comments), what we should be pushing for (getting back to rather) is good content. With companies trying to get us to realize that their consoles really won't be a leap, I think it's only rational that they try to get us to talk about what type of games we'd like to see. I've always been all about playing a good game rather than having the best graphics. It really doesn't matter which system has the best graphics because for the next-gen consoles, they're all going to be around the same in specs as any console having unnecessary types of hardware will be overpriced. Graphics support are only there to make the game more immersive, but what really does that best is a decent story, decent gameplay, and new ways to play. These are the 3 things currently lacking in the gaming industry and it's about time we get those back.

Nintendo has new ways to play down, but they've been recently lacking in gameplay and story. While games like Zelda are usually always fun, Nintendo could really hit the mark with it's fans if they simply beefed up the story and gameplay. I don't have much criticism about a lot of games, but some notable ones are skyward sword. This game is fun by default but did anyone notice that this game lacked new moves and equipment? A lot of the stuff were carried over from Twilight Princess and some of the equipment were just not that spectacular. I really wish they could have given link more attacks on the Wii as well. The only thing I really liked was the freedom they gave you with the Wiimote Plus.Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure Nintendo will be able to beef up gameplay with Wii U, but I hope they will be able to bring down the house with their Story. If there is anything that I'm looking for in the next Zelda game, it's an enticing story.

Microsoft's leak of the next console is the perfect example of why we shouldn't expect a significant leap in graphics, but going back on the current topic, I'm really thinking that Microsoft is lacking on the "New ways to play" part. They always have a decent story and decent gamplay, but they never really seem to do anything new. This is in part of the lack of amazing exclusives, but this is just something that I hope they work on so their fans don't have to essentially playing the same games over and over again.

And finally, Sony really needs to work on gameplay and maybe a little on new ways to play, but not so much. They focus way to much on cinematics rather that amazing new ways to play and amazing ways of playing their games. They have all the tools they need to actually do it, but I think they listen to their fans way to much in detail in terms of getting new game so much to the point where sony doesn't create a great original game. Not trying to bash anyone here (As I think I've given my fair share of criticism to each company), but if I wanted focus on cinematics, I'd watch a freakin' movie. Sony's more hardcore games feel more like movies games rather than actually innovative games and I think they need to break away from that in order to make their games more fun to play. What also plays a part in their failure to accomplish this is their focus on hardware rather than good games as they aren't even using their investment in hardware to create a certain amount of really amazing games when they have the chance. I just hope Last of Us isn't mostly a walk-through of a cinematic for PS3 as if they can't pull of great gameplay, they'll have created the perfect game.

What do you guys think Nintendo or any other company lacks on that you'd like to see be improved?

Great points. Compared to the consoles, PC has had a few decent leaps in graphics. I'm talking about Shogun 2, The Witcher 2, Battlefield 3, etc. But not enough to warrant a huge leap in console graphics. Then again, I think with games like Metro: Last Light, Bioshock: Infinite, and Far Cry 3 coming this year and next (actually, are any of them coming this year?) we'll probably see a huge leap in overall graphics. Consider that PC recently got the 600 series from Nvidia, and the 7000 series from AMD, so developers tend to up the graphics when stuff like that comes out (over a long period of time, however).

Whoever wants better than UE4 is being a little unrealistic. Half the trouble of the engine is running the particle effects and the lighting. Stuff like that absolutely destroys my PC rig, it's tough stuff to optimize efficiently. I'm not saying it's impossible to improve, but one step at a time. Ya know? I'd rather good frame rates and particle effects/lighting than bad framerates and better particle effects/lighting.

No comment on what the companies need to do, that's above my pay grade.

On one hand,I think your absolutely right about people having unrealistic expectations, on the other how can we not with todays games. How much next gen suprises us will just be determined by hardware.

On critisizing of the console makers, you are critisizing in all the wrong places.

Nin is making a whole new console based on a new type of gameplay and yet still manage to keep the classic gameplay style. I do agree about story though, they need a refresh there.

Microsoft lacking in new ways to play...maybe hardcore games, but just look at kinect. If your "too hardcore" for kinect and want new ways to play...you're just acting ignorant.

Sony, really, these guys are pulling out all the stops. They don't just have cinamatic games (back to this in a sec), just look at their PSN exclusives: the unfinished swan, journey, flow...and other games like LBP, infamous, etc.

Do you know what happens when you take the remote out of a moviegoers hand? It keeps playing. Out of a gamers hand? nothing. That is what makes the experiences in "cinamatic" games so increadible. You don't have complete control, yet you still control all the subtle things that make up the parts of a increadible experience, whichever system you might be playing on.

Very good blog, yeah sony's exclusives tend to get a bit cinematic mainly due it borrows from Sony's movie heritage i.e. Columbia, Tristar, and Sony Pictures to name a few. Meaning Sony has had plenty of experience when it comes to movies and brought that experience to gaming. I also agree with Sony listening to their user base a bit too much the same user base that wanted a $300.00 system and opted for remastered editions of say PS2 games as opposed to backwards compatibility. I do want to point out that amongst cinematic exclusives lies great artistic exclusives for PS3 like:

LBP Infamous Franchise Journey Echochrome Flow

See what I mean the problem with Sony is it does not utilize the features the PS3 offers to its full potential or even bother using them at all. Like the PS3 is capable of utilizing keyboard and mouse without the need of an adapter; yet, like 3 games or less use keyboard and mouse as an option to play say games. Instead brought the move wasted money, marketing, etc. on a device that wasn't needed.......

Nintendo pretty spot on and Microsoft well no arguing there either. I mean kinect is just a wii motion control rip-off same motion game titles as the wii different name. Story along with better facial expressions is vastly needed in say games plus variety innovation yet keep say games entertaining that is my two cents.

I can imagine some "innovation:" Solid State Drives, for example. I do think the Dev cycles are going to get longer and longer. There isn't much more you can do with sound and graphics are still being pushed on the current gen.